Missouri again named a top pro-business state

Missouri was once again rated as one of the top U.S. states for business according to a international brokerage and consulting firm.

Staff Reports

Missouri was once again rated as one of the top U.S. states for business according to a international brokerage and consulting firm.

Missouri came in at No. 9 in the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2013, an annual study considered the most comprehensive in the economic development industry.

Among other factors, Missouri received “A” grades from Pollina for its corporate tax index, unemployment insurance and electricity costs.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Missouri has been listed in the top 10.

“Once again, Missouri’s low taxes, predictable economic environment and focus on strict fiscal discipline have kept us a top 10 state for businesses to start, locate and expand,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “We will continue to hold the line on taxes while making strategic investments in Missouri’s future to create jobs and keep our state moving forward.”

“Gov. Jay Nixon has shown a no-nonsense approach for job creation and the tax revenue that results from strong economic development,” Pollina Corporate said in its report.

In a September 2011 report, the state auditor recognized that Missouri has the seventh-lowest state taxes as a percentage of personal income.

In 2012, the Federation of Tax Administrators ranked Missouri the fifth-lowest in per capita state taxes in the country, representing a lower tax burden than all of the states surrounding Missouri.

Also, a 2012 report by Ernst & Young and the Council on State Taxation ranked Missouri’s effective business tax rate as the eighth-lowest in the country.

Pollina’s Corporate Top Pro Business States is an annual study of job retention and creation efforts by the 50 states.

It examines more than 30 factors relative to state efforts to create business-friendly environments, including taxes, human resources, energy costs, infrastructure spending, economic incentive programs and state economic development efforts.

A press release from the governor’s office highlighted the additional jobs and investments from auto assembly plants and other global companies from around the state.

The release also noted that Missouri’s unemployment rate has been below the national average for 45 consecutive months and that in both 2011 and 2012, Missouri companies set record export sales, totaling $28 billion worth of Missouri-made goods being sold around the world.

The governor’s office also highlighted Missouri Works, a comprehensive strategy to support economic growth and create career opportunities for Missourians.